Dorothy Marie Grohs Wallenstien

Dorothy Marie Grohs Wallenstien, 87, of Moses Lake, WA, passed away on Sunday, March 28, 2010, with family and friends by her side.

Dorothy was born, May 19, 1922, in Lost Valley, Washington to George and Marie Grohs. She attended Oakview Elementary and graduated from Centralia High School in 1940. She then attended business college in Seattle and worked as a bookkeeper.

Dorothy met a sailor, Robert Wallenstien, and they married August 12, 1942. After many moves with the military, the couple settled in Kalama, Wash., and later made moves to Centralia, Spokane and, finally, Moses Lake. Along the way, she typed Bob’s doctoral thesis on a manual typewriter and ironed countless white shirts for his teaching and administrative duties. She was proud of the Wallenstien Theater at Big Bend College, named for Robert, a former President. A recent nickname, “Mrs. Theater,” made her smile.

Dorothy loved playing cards for nickels, 65 and 21, and pinochle and other games with her friends. She, also, enjoyed traveling, crocheting, crafts, and fishing. At age 87 she was teaching Monroe House ladies to cover hangers and to crochet potholders. She was a die-hard Mariners fan. She loved birds, squirrels, any wildlife. Dorothy participated in life to the fullest — dressed up for every Halloween, hunted for Easter eggs, walked barefoot on the beach in Maui — never reluctant to try something new. She was a wonderful wife and teammate for Bob for 59 years. She was a fabulous mom, grandma, great-grandma, sister, aunt, and friend.

Dorothy is survived by her daughters, Dottie Birley (Tom), Sunnyvale, CA, Charlotte Wiester (Bill), Moses Lake, and Jodee Jackson, Spokane, her grandchildren, Michael Birley (Shauna), Krista Chaffin-Penny (Trevor), Bill Wiester, Lisa Masiello (Tony), Janelle Jackson and Shari Jackson, her great-grandchildren, Jordan Wiester and Taylor Chaffin, her brother, Oscar Grohs, and many nieces and nephews.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Wallenstien, her parents George and Marie Grohs, her brother Victor Grohs and her sister Margaret Smith.

A celebration of Dorothy’s life will be at the Monroe House, 1405 S. Monroe St., Moses Lake, WA, on April 18 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice or just remember her in your heart as we will. Love and miss you, Mom.